This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada)
The talented and prolific Kenneth Oppel already garners much attention from readers, award juries, and critics alike. So why feel the need to include him here? Here’s the thing: sometimes the hype is justified.
A gothic tale of love, lust, ambition, and the supernatural, Oppel’s latest effort, which has roots in Mary Shelley’s classic horror novel, combines eloquent language and an action-filled plot. His young Frankenstein brothers, Victor and Konrad, are sure to get as much attention as those Twilight kids, especially once the movie (optioned by the producer of Stephenie Meyer’s hit franchise) hits the big screen. “Victor’s seething passions and mixed motives – coupled with his clear-eyed assessment of them – make him by far the most complex and, oddly, sympathetic character Oppel has created (at least, among those that are human),” wrote Q&Q reviewer Chelsea Donaldson.
